Rats! episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 22, 2025 · 51 MIN

Rats!

from Health Wanted · host WABE

Rats—they are often seen as pests or spreaders of disease, but they are also surprising public health heroes. This week on Health Wanted, host Laurel Bristow explores the role rats play in disease transmission, from the Black Death to modern outbreaks, and uncovers their contributions to science, from sniffing out landmines to serving as human proxies in lab studies. Then, she is joined by Kaylee Byers, PhD, to talk about rats and humans existing together. In the Q&A, Bristow tackles questions about measles immunity, how to know if you need an additional MMR vaccine, and what factors determine a baby’s sex. For a full rundown on all the information shared in today's episode, take a look at the Show Notes. Have a question for Laurel? Send it to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 404-888-3630! For more, visit wabe.org/healthwantedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 22, 2025

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Rats!

0:00 51:24

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Health Wanted?

This episode is 51 minutes long.

When was this Health Wanted episode published?

This episode was published on August 22, 2025.

Can I download this Health Wanted episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!